H. L. Mencken on forgiveness

No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

Religion is fundamentally opposed to everything I hold in veneration⁠—courage, clear thinking, honesty, fairness, and, above all, love of the truth.

We must repsect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart.

Love, while always forgiving of imperfections and mistakes, can never cease to will their removal.

C. S. Lewis1898–1963

• Love
• Theology

To err is human, to forgive divine.

Alexander Pope1688–1744An Essay on Criticism (1711)In context

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heal that has crushed it.

Mark Twain1835–1910

• Virtue